IRCTC SBI Credit Card
★★★☆☆ (3.5 / 5)
At a Glance
| Joining Fee | ₹500 + GST |
| Annual (Renewal) Fee | ₹300 + GST |
| Best Suited For | Regular AC-class train travellers who book on IRCTC |
| Reward Type | Reward Points (1 RP = ₹1, redeemable only against IRCTC train tickets) |
If you book AC train tickets on IRCTC several times a year, this card pays you back up to 10% of the fare in reward points and those points come off your next ticket fare at ₹1 per point. That is the whole pitch, and it is a good one at a ₹500 entry fee. Everything else about the card is ordinary: 0.8% on regular spends, no airport lounge access, no insurance cover, and points you cannot redeem anywhere except a train ticket. This review breaks down exactly what you earn, what the seasonal catch is, and who should pick the Premier variant or an HDFC card instead.
The card is sold as the IRCTC SBI Platinum Card and is available on both the Visa and RuPay networks. Features are near-identical; the RuPay version can be linked to UPI apps, and its fee schedule differs slightly. Differences are flagged throughout.
Rewards & Benefits
Reward rate & earn structure
There are two separate earn rates, and mixing them up is the most common mistake people make with this card.
| Spend type | Earn rate | Effective value back |
|---|---|---|
| AC train tickets on irctc.co.in / IRCTC app (1AC, 2AC, 3AC, CC, EC) peak reward window | 10 RP per ₹100 | 10% |
| AC train tickets on IRCTC off-peak reward window | 4 RP per ₹100 | 4% |
| All other retail spends (including Sleeper/2S tickets and non-rail IRCTC bookings) | 1 RP per ₹125 | 0.8% |
The 10% rate is not available year-round. SBI applies it based on your travel date, not your booking date:
- 10 RP per ₹100 – travel dates from 15 January to 31 March, and 15 July to 15 September
- 4 RP per ₹100 – travel dates from 1 April to 14 July, and 16 September to 14 January
In plain terms: the card pays its best rate in the lean railway seasons and drops to 4% during the summer and festive rush, which is exactly when most families travel. Budget your expectations around 4% unless your travel is genuinely off-peak.
Two more limits worth knowing. Only AC classes qualify for the accelerated rate — Sleeper and Second Sitting tickets earn only the base 1 RP per ₹125. And the accelerated rate applies only to train bookings; flights, hotels and holiday packages booked on the IRCTC platform earn the base rate.
Spends that earn nothing at all: fuel, rent payments, wallet loads, cash advances, balance transfers, card fees and charges, merchant EMI, Flexipay conversions, and government transactions.
Redemption options & point value
1 Reward Point = ₹1, and that is a clean, honest ratio — but it applies in exactly one place.
Points can be redeemed only against train ticket fare on the IRCTC website or mobile app. To enable this, you must link your IRCTC SBI Card loyalty number to your IRCTC login ID; until you do, points accumulate but cannot be used. Redemption covers the full fare including all passengers on the booking, and a redemption fee of ₹99 applies per redemption request.
This single-purpose redemption is the card’s biggest structural weakness. There is no statement credit, no voucher catalogue at ₹1 per point, and no airline or hotel transfer. If you stop travelling by train, your points effectively stop having value.
Welcome benefit
350 bonus Reward Points (worth ₹350) on your first non-fuel transaction of ₹500 or more, completed within 45 days of card issuance.
That recovers 70% of the ₹500 joining fee before GST. Do not let it lapse; it is the single easiest ₹350 on this card.
Milestone benefits
500 Reward Points (worth ₹500) credited each year on payment of the renewal fee.
This is the mechanic that makes the card near-free to hold: you pay ₹300 + GST and receive ₹500 in points. There is no spend-based annual fee waiver on this card the renewal points are the waiver, and you only get them if you actually pay the fee and keep the card active.
Dining benefits
None. The base Platinum variant carries no accelerated dining rate. If dining rewards matter to you, the IRCTC SBI Card Premier earns 3 RP per ₹125 on dining and on standing instructions for utility bills; this card does not.
Travel benefits
- 1% transaction charge waiver on railway ticket bookings made through irctc.co.in. IRCTC’s own convenience fee on card payments is what this offsets, so it is a real saving on every booking, stacked on top of the reward points.
- Custom IRCTC tour packages and hotel tie-ups accessible through the IRCTC platform.
- Contactless payments this was the first credit card live on RuPay Contactless (National Common Mobility Card).
- RuPay variant only: UPI linking, so you can scan and pay from the card. Note that UPI spends earn only the base 1 RP per ₹125, and several UPI categories (rent, wallet, government) earn nothing.
Airport lounge access (domestic / international)
| Lounge type | Visits |
|---|---|
| Domestic airport | None |
| International airport | None |
| Railway lounge (participating stations) | 4 per year, maximum 1 per quarter |
This card gives you no airport lounge access at all. Any comparison chart that shows airport lounges on the IRCTC SBI Platinum Card is describing a different variant.
The railway lounge benefit is real but narrow. Participating lounges are at a limited set of stations New Delhi (Platforms 1 and 16), Jaipur, Agra, Ahmedabad, Sealdah (Kolkata), Madurai and Varanasi among others and the list changes, so confirm before you plan around it. Access is for the primary cardholder only; add-on cardholders and companions pay. You will need to show the card along with a valid train ticket, and a non-refundable ₹2 authentication charge is levied on the card at entry.
At roughly ₹150–₹350 per person for a paid railway lounge entry, four visits is ₹600–₹1,400 of value comfortably more than the renewal fee if you actually use them.
Insurance & protection covers
The base Platinum variant carries no complimentary insurance cover. The ₹1 lakh complimentary fraud liability cover sits on the Premier variant, not this one. Standard SBI Card zero-liability protection after reporting a lost card still applies.
Fees & Charges
All fees below are exclusive of GST. 18% GST applies on top of every fee and charge listed.
Joining & annual fee, and how to get it waived
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Joining fee (one-time) | ₹500 + GST |
| Renewal fee (per year, Visa/Platinum) | ₹300 + GST |
| Renewal fee (RuPay variant) | ₹500 + GST |
| Add-on card fee | Nil |
There is no spend threshold that waives the fee. Instead, paying the renewal fee credits you 500 Reward Points worth ₹500 so on the ₹300 schedule you are effectively ₹200 ahead each year, before GST. On the ₹500 schedule you break even. Either way, the fee is close to self-funding as long as you keep the card active and eventually spend those points on a ticket.
Forex markup
3.5% + GST on every foreign currency transaction. That is at the high end and makes this a poor card to carry abroad. Effective cost on a ₹1,00,000 overseas spend is roughly ₹4,130 including GST.
Interest rate & finance charges
| Charge | Rate |
|---|---|
| Retail purchase interest | Up to 3.75% per month (45% per annum) |
| Interest-free period | 20 to 50 days, only if the previous month’s balance was paid in full |
| Late payment fee | Slab-based on outstanding amount |
“Finance charges” means interest. It applies from the transaction date the moment you carry any balance forward, and the interest-free period disappears entirely until you clear the full outstanding. Revolving a balance on this card wipes out several years of railway rewards in a few months — pay in full.
Fuel surcharge waiver
1% waiver on fuel transactions between ₹500 and ₹3,000, capped at ₹100 per statement cycle per account. Note that fuel spends earn no reward points — you get the surcharge waiver or the points, and here it is only the waiver.
Cash advance & other charges
| Charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| Cash advance fee | 2.5% of amount or ₹500, whichever is higher |
| Reward redemption fee | ₹99 per redemption |
| Railway lounge authentication | ₹2 per visit (non-refundable) |
| Customs duty payment | 2.25% of transaction (minimum ₹75) |
| Overlimit charge | 2.5% of overlimit amount (minimum ₹600) |
Eligibility & Documents Required
Eligibility criteria
- Age: 21 to 70 years (primary applicant); add-on cards from 18 years
- Indian resident, salaried or self-employed with a stable income source
- A healthy credit history most approvals sit above a 750 CIBIL score, though SBI publishes no cut-off
- Reported credit limits on this card range from ₹10,000 to ₹10 lakh depending on profile
No card issuer guarantees approval, and meeting these criteria does not mean your application will be accepted.
Documents required
- Identity proof: PAN card (mandatory), Aadhaar, passport, voter ID or driving licence
- Address proof: Aadhaar, passport, utility bill or registered rent agreement
- Income proof: latest 2–3 salary slips and Form 16 for salaried; last 2 years’ ITR for self-employed
- Recent passport-size photograph
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Up to 10% value back on AC train tickets booked on IRCTC among the highest rail rates available | Points are redeemable only against IRCTC train tickets no vouchers, no statement credit |
| 500 renewal Reward Points make the ₹300 fee effectively self-funding | The 10% rate applies only in two seasonal windows; the rest of the year it is 4% |
| 1% IRCTC transaction charge waiver on every rail booking, stacked on top of points | 0.8% base rate on all non-rail spends is below current entry-level standards |
| 4 complimentary railway lounge visits a year, worth ₹600–₹1,400 if used | Zero airport lounge access and zero insurance cover on this variant |
| Low ₹500 entry cost with a 350-point welcome offset | 3.5% forex markup; ₹99 redemption fee on every redemption |
| RuPay variant supports UPI payments | No spend-based annual fee waiver |
IRCTC SBI Platinum Card vs Competitors
| IRCTC SBI Platinum | IRCTC SBI Card Premier | IRCTC HDFC Bank Card | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joining / renewal fee | ₹500 / ₹300 | ₹1,499 / ₹1,499 | ₹500 / ₹500 |
| Value back on AC rail tickets | Up to 10% | Up to 10% | 5%, plus 5% extra via SmartBuy |
| Base reward rate | 1 RP per ₹125 (0.8%) | 1 RP per ₹125 (0.8%) | 1 RP per ₹100 (1%) |
| Bonus categories | None | 3 RP per ₹125 on dining and utility standing instructions | UPI spends (capped at 500 RP per month) |
| Railway lounge visits | 4 per year (max 1 per quarter) | 8 per year (max 2 per quarter) | 8 per year (max 2 per quarter) |
| Air ticket benefit | None | 5% back on air.irctc.co.in; 1.8% transaction charge waiver | None |
| Milestone benefit | 500 RP on renewal fee payment | 2,500 RP on ₹50,000 travel spend; 5,000 RP on ₹1,00,000 travel spend | ₹500 welcome voucher; fee waiver on ₹1.5 lakh spend |
| Insurance | None | ₹1 lakh fraud liability cover | Varies by variant |
The short verdict on each. Premier is worth the extra ₹1,199 only if you book air tickets on IRCTC or hit ₹50,000+ of annual travel spend the milestone points alone then cover the fee gap. The HDFC card is the stronger all-round pick for most people at the same ₹500 fee: a better base rate, double the lounge visits, a genuine spend-based fee waiver, and points redeemable via SmartBuy. The SBI Platinum card wins on one axis the headline 10% rail rate in season — and on the simplicity of redeeming directly on the IRCTC site.
How to Apply
- Go to the IRCTC SBI Platinum Card page on sbicard.com and choose Apply Now. Select the Visa or RuPay variant deliberately pick RuPay if you want UPI linking.
- Enter your PAN, mobile number, email and employment details, and verify the OTP.
- Complete Aadhaar-based e-KYC, or schedule a physical document pickup if e-KYC fails.
- Upload income proof salary slips or ITR and submit.
- Track your application using the reference number on SBI Card’s application tracker. You will receive SMS updates on your registered mobile number.
- Once the card arrives, do two things immediately: make a non-fuel transaction of ₹500 or more within 45 days to claim the 350 welcome points, and link your card’s loyalty number to your IRCTC login ID so points become redeemable.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the annual fee of the IRCTC SBI Platinum Card?
The joining fee is ₹500 + GST and the renewal fee is ₹300 + GST from the second year. The RuPay variant is listed at ₹500 renewal on SBI Card’s own site, so confirm which schedule applies to your variant before applying.
Is the IRCTC SBI Card annual fee waived on spends?
No. There is no spend-based fee waiver. Instead, you receive 500 Reward Points worth ₹500 each year when you pay the renewal fee, which offsets most or all of it.
How many lounge visits does the IRCTC SBI Platinum Card give?
Four complimentary railway lounge visits per year, with a maximum of one per quarter, at participating stations. The card gives no airport lounge access of any kind.
Do I really get 10% back on train tickets?
Only in two windows. You earn 10 RP per ₹100 for travel dates between 15 January–31 March and 15 July–15 September, and 4 RP per ₹100 for travel dates between 1 April–14 July and 16 September–14 January. Only AC1, AC2, AC3, Chair Car and Executive Chair Car qualify Sleeper and 2S earn the base rate.
Where can I redeem IRCTC SBI Card reward points?
Only against train ticket fare on the IRCTC website or Android app, at 1 point = ₹1, after linking your card’s loyalty number to your IRCTC login ID. A ₹99 redemption fee applies. Points cannot be redeemed for statement credit or a general voucher catalogue.
What is the minimum salary for the IRCTC SBI Platinum Card?
SBI Card does not publish a fixed minimum income for this card. Approval depends on your income, credit history and existing obligations, and no issuer guarantees approval.
Is the IRCTC SBI Card good for foreign travel?
No. The forex markup is 3.5% + GST and there is no international lounge access or travel insurance. Use a dedicated low-forex card abroad.
Does the RuPay variant work on UPI?
Yes. The RuPay version can be linked to UPI apps and used for scan-and-pay. UPI transactions earn the base 1 RP per ₹125, and excluded categories such as rent, wallet loads and government payments earn nothing.
How long does the welcome bonus take?
The 350 bonus points are credited after a single non-fuel transaction of ₹500 or more, made within 45 days of card issuance.
Bottom Line
Get this card if you book AC-class train tickets on IRCTC at least four or five times a year, you are comfortable that your rewards will only ever come back as train fare, and you want a card that costs effectively nothing to hold. On ₹40,000 of in-season AC bookings you would earn about ₹4,000 in points plus the 1% transaction charge saving a return no general-purpose ₹500 card gets close to on that spend. Add four railway lounge visits and the maths is comfortable.
Skip this card if any of the following apply. You travel mostly in Sleeper or 2S, where the accelerated rate does not apply at all. You want airport lounge access or insurance cover — this variant has neither. You want a card that rewards everyday spending, because 0.8% with a long exclusion list is behind almost every current entry-level cashback card. Or you book train tickets often and fly on IRCTC in which case the Premier variant’s milestones and air benefits justify its higher fee, and the HDFC IRCTC card’s 8 lounge visits and spend-based fee waiver make it the better ₹500 option.
Treat this as a second card that lives in your wallet for IRCTC bookings and nothing else. As a primary card, it is not competitive in 2026.
Fees and features are as of 08 August 2026 and are subject to change by the issuer. Confirm all charges on SBI Card’s official page and in the Most Important Terms & Conditions (MITC) document before you apply.
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